US3657930A

US3657930A - Piezoelectric crystal operated pump to supply fluid pressure to hydrostatically support inner bearings of a gyroscope

Info

Publication number: US3657930A
Application number: US836056A
Authority: US
Inventors: Oscar D Jacobson
Original assignee: Bendix Corp
Current assignee: Bendix Corp
Priority date: 1969-06-24
Filing date: 1969-06-24
Publication date: 1972-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-25

Abstract

A piezoelectric crystal operated pump including a bimorph (bender type) piezoelectric crystal diaphragm, volumetrically expanding piezoelectric crystal stack, or such a crystal stack operated diaphragm pump arranged to flex in a pump cavity to supply a fluid pressure medium to hydrostatically supported inner bearings of gyroscope.

Description

United States Patent Jacobson 1 1 Apr. 25,.1972

' PIEZOELECTRIC CRYSTAL [561 H References Cited OPERATED PUMP T SUPPLY FLUID UNITED STATES PATENTS PRESSURE TO HYDROSTATICALLY 3,029,743 4/1962 Johns ..l03/1 UX SUPPORT INNER BEARINGS OF A 3,150,592 9/1964 Stec ..103/1 GYROSCOPE 3,361,067 1/1968 Webb .....103/1 Invembr: Oscar Jacobson, N York, NY. 3,362,231 1/1968 Baldwln ..74/ [73] Assignee: The Bendix Corporation Primary ExamPwP-Manud Amonakas I Attorney-l-lefbert L. Davis and Plante, Hartz, Smith & v [22] F1led: June 24, 1969 Thompson 1 1. N .1 836,056 [2 1 App [57 ABSTRACT [52] U S Cl 74/5 417/322 A piezoelectric crystal operated pump including a bimorph 5 I] Cl 6 c 19/20 (bender type) piezoelectric crystal diaphragm, volumetrically [58] Fieid 144/5 expanding piezoelectric crystal stack, or such a crystal stack 1 operated diaphragm pump arranged to flex in a pump cavity to supply a fluid pressure medium to hydrostatically supported inner bearings of gyroscope.

18 Claims, Drawing Figures 6 66; A GE 74 Zo/fW 00 3.19: 1-

WV 1 w :5 7a 7 5 54 r21 25 56 Bmqrp/r-H'egae/zcfi/c 56\ i 4 Cry sfa/ lap/1443M I r -5-i 1 x 6 6 '25: 1

L o 12 I. j 55 //\\/Z RE$l /l 8 !7T- 1 mm Car/'faT/an 14 64 I F Inlet Chamber 92 Patented April 25, 1972 3,657,930

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /CLO5E OPEN ' INVENTOR.

Oscarfl Jacobson BY 14. C. SOURCE Patented April 25, 1972 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. c0195 1 Uscar D. J2?

INVENTOR. Uscar Z7. fizcoson HTTORNEY mEzoELEcTatc CRYSTAL OPERATEDPPUMPTO SUPPLY FLUID PRESSUMFTOHYDROS'MTICALLY SUPPORT INNER BEARINGSOF A cYnoscoPE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION BACKGROUND. OF THE'INVE'NTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a field of lowpower input pumps which may be utilize'dto supply liquid-pressure medium to hydrostatically support bearings of a gyroscope, and an arrangement in which power-efficiency is important in order to minimized heating problems.

2; Description of theiPrior Art l-leretofore there has been' disclosed in a U.S. Pat. No; 3,361,067, granted lan. 2, .1968; to James E; Webb, administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administrator, a

piezoelectric pumpfor a gyroscope fluid suspension'system, but in-sucharrangementtherezhas not been utilizedfthe present improvements in the unidirectional fluid flow inlet and outlet control orifice means for the fluid pressure chamber means in which the piezoelectric element is operatively ar ranged; intake andoutlet fluidreservoirs to prevent cavitation-' underhigh operatingfrequences of the.piezoelectrieelement;.

slidable plates operatively arranged to vary the orifices ofthe fluid flow inlet and outlet control means definedby'serially'ar ranged teeth in the slidable plates;- and the operative arrangement of the Miilti Piezoelectric Diaphragm Pumpnfora:

gyroscope fluid suspension system, as in the present invention.

However piezoelectric pumps generally have'been'disclosedin a U.S1 Pat.: No. 3,0295743 granted Apr: 17, 1962 to James F. Johns; as well as in a U.S. Pat; No. 3,107,630 granted Oct. 22, 1963 to Robert R. Johnson et al. and in a U.S. Pat. No.

3,270,672 granted Sept. 6, 1966 to Robert'M. Hanes etal.

Moreoverinan ASME publication by, G. M. Benson and. Nicholas .Kattcheeentitled Application of the Piezoelectric Effect for Energy Converters of theArtificial Heart Program? presented at theASME Winter-Annual Meetingin NewYork, N. Y. of Dec. 1+5, 1968, crystal diaphragm piezoelectric type pumps have been disclosed. as appliedfor the somewhat differentpurpose of a blood pump.x

Moreover a U.S. Pat. No. 3,2l5,078granted Nov. 2, 1965 to Charles L. Stec has been noted of interest in showing a pump inwhich the vibrating crystals are in cylindrical form, w hileathe U.S. Pat; No. 3,029,743 and a. US. Pat. No. 3,125,033 granted March 17, 1964 to Jeanl-lenri Albert Mary have beenrnoted'as'of interest inshowingzzinlet and outlet valvesin combination with a diaphragm operatedpulsation chamber and cavitation chamber for smoothing out pulsatrons.

Also the'Johnson et al., U.S; Patt.No. 3,l07,630 has been noted, as of particular interest, in the arrangement of a piezoelectric bender assemblyof diaphragms incorporated in single or double housing arrangements so as to produce particular desired pumping actions, while valving arrangements in the last mentioned patent have been provided whereby oscillation of the pump diaphragm effects cyclic changes in hydraulic resistance.

Furthermore, as disclosed in a.U.S. Pat. No. 3,362,231 granted Jan. 9, 1968 to Roland G. Baldwin et 211., there has been provided a pump assembly in combination with a gyroscope to provide a fluid medium under pressure for hydrodynamically-supporting the rotor and gimbal elements of the gyroscope.

However, in theoperation of the device disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,362,231, the pump assembly effects an inward pumpingaction to a hydrodynamic journal bearing of a rotor member of the gyroscope through the provision of inwardly diminishing or converging grooves in the stator of the pump ing assembly;

There is inherent in the arrangement disclosed in the last mentioned patent, a high viscous drag on the rotor element of the gyroscope'in that the rotor element drives an element of the pump assembly. Thisarrangement of the patent requires a delicate balance between the speed of rotation of the rotor of thegyroscope and the pumping action required by the pumping assembly which is not separately operable in the reference patent from the rotor of the gyroscope, as in the case of the present invention;

Moreover, the aforenoted references fail to suggest either the specific structural arrangement of the present inventionof a compact piezoelectric crystal diaphragm pump in a gyroscope or the basic feature of a bimorph piezoelectric crystal diaphragm actuated pump in such a gyroscopic ar rangement utilizing stationary orifice valves and resilient intake and outlet anticavitation chambers for high frequency operation of'the diaphragm pump to supply the required fluid pressure medium to hydrostatically support bearings of the gryoscope; nor do the cited references suggest such a compact piezoelectric crystal diaphragm pump in combination with adjustable flat plate orifice valves arranged in the inletand outlet to the diaphragm pump so as to provide a greater resistance to fluid flow in one direction than the other and which resistance may be readily adjusted by the operator effecting a convenient adjustment of the flat plate orifices relative one to the other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a compact flexible piezoelectric crystal diaphragm pump assembly mounted in an end plate of a housing of a gyroscope so arranged as to provide a low powerinput pump which may be utilized to circulate fluid pressure medium to and from hydrostatically supported bearings of agyr'oscope.

An object of the invention is to provide in such-an end plate of a gyroscope a compact pump assembly including a bimorph (bendertype) piezoelectric crystal held in a cavity of theend plateby an 0 ring, and in which arrangement the crystal unit includes laminate of two piezoelectric crystals with electrical connections made'on inner and outer surfaces of each crystal laminate to an alternating current voltage supply applied to the crystal surfaces so as to cause a contraction in one laminate and an expansion in the other laminate along its long axis resulting in a bending action which effects a push-pull pumping action on both of its sides.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an arrangement in which the mechanical resonance of the crystal matches the electrical input frequency of the energizing alternating current voltage.

Another object of the invention is to provide in such an arrangement a resonant crystal which acts as'a diaphragm piston causing a push-pull pumping action on. both of its sides and in which the oscillating fluid flow to and from the piezoelectric pump is partially rectified by means of series connected stationary orifice valves providing greater resistance to fluid flow in one direction than the other. Another objectof the invention is to provide such a pumping arrangement in which cavitation at high operating frequency is overcome by pressurizing the entire system and providing resilient intake and outlet'reservoirs.

Another object of the invention isto provide a piezoelectric diaphragm pump including a double acting piezoelectric diaphragm operatively connected to an alternating current voltage applied to the crystal surfaces so as to cause a contraction of one laminate of the diaphragm and an expansion of the other laminate of. the crystal diaphragm along its long axis so that the crystal diaphragm acts as a diaphragm piston causing a push-pull pumping action on both of its sides.

Another object of the invention is to provide a modified form of the invention including a volumetrically expanding crystal operatively connected across a source of alternating current voltage applied to the crystal surfaces so as to cause a contraction and expansion of the crystal corresponding to the wave form of the alternating current voltage applied thereto to effect the push-pull pumping action as the volumetrically expanding crystal expands and contracts.

Another object of the invention is to provide amodified form of the invention in which a single crystal diaphragm may include two piezoelectric crystals with electrical connections made on its inner and outer surfaces to a source of alternating current voltage so as to cause a contraction of one laminate and an expansion of the other laminate of the diaphragm crystal along its long axis effecting a bimetal or bending action to provide a pumping operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a further modified form of the invention in which a volumetrically expanding piezoelectric crystal is arranged to operate a diaphragm for effecting the pumping operationin which a crystal may be connected across a source of alternating current voltage to effect an expansion and contraction of the crystal corresponding to the wave form of the energizing alternating'current voltage to in turn drive the diaphragm for effecting the pumping operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide in the several forms of the piezoelectric pump aforenoted, stationary orifice valves arranged in the inlet and outlet conduits to the diaphragm pump in which the orifice valves arranged in the inlet conduit to the diaphragm pump provide a greater resistance to fluid flow in an outlet direction than in an inlet direction, while the stationary orifice valves arranged in the outlet conduit from the diaphragm pump provide a greater re sistance to fluid flow in an inlet direction that in an outlet direction. The stationary orifice valves in the inlet and outlet conduits to the diaphragm pump are so arranged as to partially rectify the oscillating fluid flow to the inlet and through the outlet of the piezoelectric pump. Cavitation at high operating frequencies is overcome by pressurizing the entire-system and providing resilient inlet and outlet reservoirs between the respective inlet and outlet conduits and a hydrostatically supported bearing of the gyroscope and from and to which the diaphragm pump may effectively circulate the fluid pressure medium to hydrostatically support the bearings of the gyroscope.

Another object of the invention is to provide the orifice valves in the form of adjustable flat plate orifices in which the orifices are defined by angular orifice pockets milled into the facing surfaces ofthe plates, together with novel means for adjusting the orifice openings by slidably positioning one plate in relation to the other.

A further object of the invention is to provide a multicrystal diaphragm pump, including a series of sets of piezoelectric crystal diaphragms, each set having a pair of the diaphragms operating in opposing senses and connected in parallel with orifice valving so arranged as to amplify a fluid output of the pump while the opposing operation of the pairs of diaphragms of each set serves to balance out vibration in the pump which may have a high flow fluid capacity.

These and other objects and features of the invention are pointed out in the following description in terms of the embodiments thereof which are shown in the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In which corresponding parts have been indicated by corresponding numerals.

FIG. I is a side view, partly in section, of a single degree of freedom gyroscope including a bimorph piezoelectric crystal diaphragm (bender type) pump embodying the present inven tron.

FIG. 2 is an end view of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. I and looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side sectional view of an end plate for a gyroscope of the type indicated in FIG. 1 in which there is provided a modified form of the invention, including a volumetrically expanding piezoelectric crystal pump for effecting a push-pull pumping action.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side sectional view of an end plate for a gyroscope of the type indicated in FIG. I in which there is provided a further modified form of the invention including a single bimorph piezoelectric crystal diaphragm pump to effect a push-pull pumping action.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side sectional view of an end plate for a gyroscope of the type shown in FIG. 1 and in which end plate there is provided another modified form of the invention including a piezoelectric crystal to operatively drive a diaphragm for effecting the required push-pull pumping actron.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side sectional view of an end plate for a gyroscope of the type illustrated in FIG. 1 in which there is provided a further modified form of the invention including an adjustable fiat plateorifice valve arrangement for use with the piezoelectric crystal diaphragm pump of the type illustrated in FIG. 1, including two sets of adjustable valve plates, each set having angular orifice pockets milled into a surface of a pair of valve plates arranged in cooperative relation one with the other in the assembled unit and in which the valve orifices may be adjusted by sliding one cooperating valve plate with relation to the other so that the orifice openings may be varied from zero to maximum.

FIG. 7 is an end sectional view taken along the lines 7-7 of FIG; 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows so as to better illustrate an operator-operative adjustment means for saw-tooth pockets milled into opposite facing valve plate surfaces each arranged to form with the saw-toothed pockets in the opposite cooperating plate adjustable valve orifice openings.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the operative arrangement of the adjustable flat plate orifice valves and the unidirectional fluid flow restriction provided by the resultant fluid flow turbulence effected upon a flow of the fluid in a direction indicated by the solid arrows so as to act in opposition to the direction of the saw-teeth pockets of the restrictive orifice plates.

FIG. 9 is another enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the operative arrangement of the adjustable flat plate orifice valves and the permissible unidirectional fluid flow therethrough in a direction opposite from that indicated in FIG. 8 and shown by the solid arrows of FIG. 9 in that the orifice teeth provide a relatively low restriction due to the minimum turbulence effected upon a fluid flow in the direction of the restricted orifice teeth.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side sectional view of a further modified form of the invention and illustrating a multi-crystal diaphragm pump including a series of sets of piezoelectric crystals diaphragms operating in opposing directions and connected in parallel with orifice valving arranged to amplify a fluid output of the pump while the opposing operation of the diaphragm sets serve to balance out vibration in the pump.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 indicates a-single degree of freedom gyroscope having a rotor element of conventional type indicated by dash line 12 and rotatably mounted about a first axis 13 in a cylindrical gimbal element 14. A cylindrical housing 16 is provided with end plates 15 and 17' so as to define a substantially cylindrical chamber 18 in which is mounted the gimbal element 14 of the gyroscope 10. The gimbal element 14 may be angularly positioned by the gyroscopic action of the single degree of freedom gyroscope 10 about a second axis 19-l9 perpendicular to the first axis 13.

The cylindrical gimbal element 14 is positioned within the cylindrical chamber 18 in a slightly spaced relation to side wall surfaces of the cylindrical housing 16 and the

end plates

15 and 17 defining the chamber 18 so as to provide a hydrostatic bearing means for the gimbal element 14, as here in after explained.

The cylindrical gimbal element 14 further includes at opposite end portions thereof axially projecting cylindrical shaft portions 20 and 22 having surfaces positioned in spaced relation to

surfaces defining recesses

21 and 23 formed in the

end plates

15 and 17 of the housing 16. These surfaces are so arranged in spaced relation as to cooperate in providing a hydrostatic bearing means upon which the gimbal element 14 may be angularly positioned about the longitudinal axis indicated by the reference numeral 19 19, Thus the surfaces of the shaft portions 20 and 22 cooperate with the surfaces defining the recesses 21 and 23spaced apart therefrom so that a liquid medium supplied to the spaces between these surfaces form hydrodynamic bearings which support the gimbal element 14 for angular movement about the axis l9- l9.

Positioned on one end portion of the housing 16 is a cylindrical casing 25 providing a chamber 27 having a fluid expansion diaphragm 28 mounted in an end of the casing 25 opposite from the housing 16. Mounted in the casing25 and in spaced relation to the diaphragm 28 is a suitable electronic pick-off device indicated generally by the numeral 30 and which may be of a type well known in the art such as a synchro or other suitable electronic signal device having a rotor ele ment 31 operably connected to the shaft portion 22 of the gimbal 14. The electronic pick-off device 30 is electrically connected so as to provide electrical signals in a conventional manner indicative of the angular position of the gimbal 14 cffected by the gyroscope 10.

The electronic pick-off device 30 and the expansion diaphragm 28 are mounted in the cylindrical casing 25 which is in turn mounted on the one end portion of the housing 16.

vAt an opposite end portion of the housing 16 there is mounted another cylindrical casing 34 in which there is in turn mounted a compact piezoelectric crystal operated pump 36 embodying the subject matter ofthe present invention.

The fluid pump 36 includes the end plate 15 so arranged as to provide a pump block sandwiched between an end of the housing 16 and an end plate 40 provided between an inner end portion of the cylindrical casing 34and the end plate 15 of the housing 16. The

casings

25 and 34 have

annular flanges

42 and 44, respectively, projecting radially from the inner ends thereof and secured in position, as shown by FIG. 1, by

bolts

46 and 48 screw threadedly engaged in an annular flange 50 projecting radially from the housing 16 and intermediate the opposite ends of the housing 16. As shown by FIG. 2, fastening holes 52 are provided in the flange 50 whereby the gyroscope may be suitably affixed to an aircraft for operation.

The'end plate provides a pump block in which there is formed an internal recess 53 cooperatively arranged in relation to an internal recess 54 provided in the plate 40. There is positioned in recesses 53 and 54 the piezoelectric crystal operated pump 36 alternately applying pressure to a fluid medium in

chambers

55 and 56 from which lead inlet and outlet fluid pressure conduits for the piezoelectric crystal diaphragm pump 36, as hereinafter explained.

An outlet port 66 provided in the end plates 15 and40 leads alternately through outletorifice valves 61 and 62 from the fluid pressure applied at chambers 55 and56 of the pump 36 to a longitudinally extending fluid pressure channel 68 provided in the housing 16. The fluid pressure channel 68 in turn opens at ports 70 into annular fluid pressure channels 74, respectively, which in turn feed through a plurality of ports 78 passing through the wall of the housing 16 and into the cylindrical chamber 18 so as to provide a fluid pressure medium about the cylindrical surface of the gimbal element 14 to provide the required pressure and flow to effect a hydrostatic bearing means between the inner surface of the housing 16 and the cylindrical surface of the gimbal element 14 positioned in spaced relation thereto so as to support the cylindrical gimbal element 14 relative to the cylindrical surface of the chamber 18 for angular movement about the axis 19-19.

The recess 21 formed in the pumping block of the end plate 15 opens through a passage 95 into a fluid pressure return passage 94 leading through

inlet orifice valves

63 and 64 to the

opposite chambers

55 and 56 of the pump 36 so as to provide a fluid return passage, while the recess 23 formed in the end plate 17 at the opposite end of the housing 16 provides an outlet for the fluid pressure medium from the cylindrical chamber 18 providing a hydrostatic bearing means for the shaft portion 22 of the gimbal element 14. The recess 23 in turn leads into the chamber 27 in the casing 25 carrying the electronic pick-off device 30 and the fluid expansion diaphragm 28.

There is thus provided a fluid pressure chamber 27 in the casing 25, while there is provided in the end plate 17 a fluid pressure return port 80 which opens from the chamber 27 into a longitudinally extending channel 92 formed in the housing 16. The channel 92, as shown by FIG. 1, in turn opens into the return channel 94 formed in the pumping block of the

end plates

15 and 40, while the channel 94 is connected by the passage 95 to the recess 21 formed in the pumping block of the end plate 15. Surfaces of shaft portion 20 of the cylindrical gimbal element 14 are, as heretofore explained, positioned in spaced relation to surfaces of the recess 21 in the pumping block of the end plate 15. The recess 21 in turn conducts the returning fluid medium to the channel 94. The fluid pressure medium in the channel 94 is in turn applied alternately through the

inlet orifice valves

63 and 64 to the

chambers

55 and 56 of the pump 36 providing a fluid pressure return to the pump 36 from the hydrostatic bearing; means for the shaft por tion 20 ofthe gimbal element 14.

PIEZOELECTRIC CRYSTAL DIAPHRAGM PUMP Referring to the form of the invention illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2, the pump 36 includes a bimorph piezoelectric crystal diaphragm (bender type) indicated by the numeral 60 and mounted between the

chambers

55 and 56 formed in the pumping block of the end plates 1.5 and 40. The crystal diaphragm 60 is supported between the recesses 53 and S4 of the

end plates

15 and 40 by a suitable soft O-ring support of a conventional type and in an arrangement in which the piezoelectric crystal diaphragm is effectively unloaded.

The crystal diaphragm 60 is a cemented laminate of two

piezoelectric crystals

101 and 103 which may be formed of a material, such as quartz or thin discs of a piezoelectric material or piezoelectric ceramic material, such as discussed in the aforenoted ASME Publication entitled "Application of the Piezoelectric Effect for Energy Converters of the Artificial Heart Program by G. M. Benson and Nicholas Kattchee.

The piezoelectric effect is attributed to the behavior of aligned, electric dipole domains within certain materials. Aligned domains exist naturally in some materials, such as quartz, or are induced by high dc fields applied to other materials, such as certain ceramics. Subsequent application of voltage to these materials deforms the domains causing the material to exhibit a voltage induced strain.

Piezoelectric ceramics are very stiff (comparable to metals) and produce small deflections and large stresses in response to high electric fields and small currents. As a result piezoelectric ceramics may be characterized as strongly dielectrically coupled, direct electromechanical converters having high electrical and mechanical impedances. These high impedances require novel electrical and electromechanical designs which markedly reduce these impedances and effectively couple the piezoelectric effect to particular mechanical load requirements.

The reduction of the electrical impedance has been achieved by employing a large number of thin disks of piezoelectric material which are assembled into a column and connected electrically in parallel by continuous electrodes. This assembly is referred to as the piezoelectric PZ) stack.

In the arrangement of P16. 1, an alternating voltage may be applied from a suitable source 105 through

conductors

107 and 109 to inner and outer piezoelectric crystal surfaces causing a contraction in one

laminate

101 or 103 and an expansion in the other laminate along its long axis. effecting a bimetal or bending action of the piezoelectric crystal diaphragm 60.

The mechanical resonance of the crystal diaphragm 60 is made to match the electrical input frequency of the alternating current supplied by the source 105 so that in operation, the resonating crystal 60 acts as a diaphragm piston causing a push-pull pumping action on both of its sides applying positive pressure to a fluid medium in one of the chambers 55 and a negative pressure to a fluid medium in the output chamber 56 during one phase of energization by the alternating current source 105 and an opposite positive pressure to the fluid medium in the chamber 56 and a negative pressure to the fluid medium in the chamber 55 during the other or opposite phase of energization from thealternating current source 105.

The oscillating fluid pressures thus effected in the

pumping chambers

55 and 56 by the energization of the piezoelectric diaphragm 60 in turn effects an oscillating fluid flow. The oscillating fluid flow is partially rectified by the action of the series connected stationary orifice valves 61 and 63 leading respectively from and into the pressure chamber 55 and by the action of the similarly series connected

stationary orifice valves

62 and 64 leading from and into the pressure chamber 56.

The orifice valves 61 and 62 are provided so as to effect a greater resistance to fluid flow in an inlet direction than in an outlet direction relative to the

pump chambers

55 and 56, while the opposite

inlet orifice valves

63 and 64 are arranged to provide a greater resistance to fluid flow in an outlet direction than in an inlet direction relative to the pump chambers 55 and S6.

Cavitation at high operating frequency is overcome by pressurizing the entire system and providing a resilient diaphragm 111 extending across an anti-cavitation inlet chamber 112 adjacent the recess 21 and also through the provision of a resilient diaphragm 113 extending across an outlet chamber 114 to which the outlet pressure conduit 66 is connected through a passage 115, as shown in FIG. 1.

There is thus provided a bimorph piezoelectric crystal diaphragm (bender type) for effecting a pumping actionthrough the provision of the

stationary orifice valves

61, 62, 63 and 64 and resilient intake and outlet anti-cavitation chambers including the resilient diaphragms 111 and 113 for high frequency operation.

Moreover it has been found that such a pump is not sensitive to foreign particles in the fluid medium and is free of starting and stopping problems which have been heretofore found to be inherent in rotary type pumps; The piezoelectric diaphragm pump of the present invention also has certain advantages in providing no wear points, having a wide temperature range of operation and further having a very high gravitational capability.

VOLUMETRICALLY EXPANDING PIEZOELECTRIC CRYSTALPUMP Referring now to form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3

corresponding nuinerals bearing the suffix A indicate correcess 54A formed in the end plate A. An opposite surface of the stack 200 extends into the inner recess 53A formed in the end plate 15A. Stack 200 is so arranged that upon a suitable source 105A of alternating current or pulsating direct current being connected by

electrical conductors

107A and 109A in parallel across the piezoelectric crystal stack 200, the stack 200 in response to the electrical ulses or alternating current applied thereto will expand and contract in relation to the recess 53A into which the stack 200 extends so as to apply pulsating alternatively negative or positive pressures to the fluid medium in the chamber 55A.

The volumetrically expanding piezoelectric crystal stack 200 will effect a flow of fluid medium from the chamber 55A through the outlet orifice valves 61A into the outlet fluid pressure conduits 66A in response to the positive pressure applied upon the stack expanding in relation to the recess chamber 53A, while upon an alternate contraction of the piezoelectric crystal stack 200 the resulting negative pressure applied to the fluid medium in the chamber 55A will cause a fluid medium to flow through the inlet orifice valves 63A from the conduit 94A into the chamber 55A so as to replenish the previously discharged fluid medium effected through the outlet orifice valves 61A in response to the opposite expansion of the piezoelectric crystal stack 200.

SINGLE CYCLE BIMORPHED BY PIEZOELECTRIC CRYSTAL DIAPHRAGM Referring now to the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4, corresponding numerals bearing the suffix B indicate corresponding parts to those heretofore described with reference to FIG. 1.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4 a single cycle pumping operation is effected instead of the two cycle operation of FIG. 1 and the operation thereof will be readily apparent from the description of the piezoelectric pump of FIG. 1 in which the corresponding parts of FIG. 4 have been heretofore described with reference to FIG. I.

DIAPHRAGM PUMP OPERATED BY A PIEZOELECTRIC CRYSTAL STACK Referring now to the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5, corresponding numerals bearing the suffix C indicate corresponding parts to those heretofore described with reference to FIG. 1.

In the form of the invention of FIG. 5, there is provided a piezoelectric crystal stack indicated by the numeral 300 and formed of a large number of thin discs of piezoelectric material. The stack 300 is bottomed on an inner surface of a recess 302 formed in the recess 54C provided in the end plate 40C. A free end surface of the stack 300 has mounted thereon a suitable actuating button 304 operatively contacting a surface of a resilient diaphragm 306 having outer edge surfaces 308 clamped between the

plates

15C and 40C, as best shown in FIG. 5.

The piezoelectric crystal stack 300, has applied thereto by a suitable source C of alternating current or pulsating dc current a voltage applied through conductor lines 107C and 109C at opposite surfaces thereof so as to cause the piezoelectric crystal stack to expand in a conventional manner to effect deflection of the diaphragm 306 so to provide a push-pull pumping action on the fluid medium of the chamber 55C, so that positive and negative pressures are alternately applied to the fluid medium in chamber 55C. Thus upon the negative pressure being applied a fluid medium is drawn in through the inlet orifice valves 63C from the conduit 94C to the chamber 55C in one cycle of operation while during the positive pressure cycle the fluid medium is expelled through the outlet orifice valves 61C to the outlet passage 66C in much the same manner as heretofore described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, and in view of which a further detailed explanation of the operation of the form of the invention of FIG. 5 is not deemed necessary.

ADJUSTABLE INLET AND OUTLET ORIFICE VALVE PLATES A further modified form of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 6 in which corresponding parts of those heretofore described with reference to FIG. 1 have been indicated by like numerals bearing the suffix D, and in view of which a further detailed explanation of the operation of such corresponding parts is not deemed necessary with reference to FIG. 6.

A novel feature of the form of the invention of FIGS. 6 and 7 resides in the arrangement between the end plates D and 40D of slidably positioned

valve plates

410 and 412 which may be adjustably positioned in relation to the respective end plate 15D and 40D by an operator-operative adjustment of two pairs of setting

screws

415 and 415A and 417 and 417A. Adjustment screws 415 and 415A each have head portions bearing upon a surface 419 of a recess provided in a circumferencial surface of the plate 15D, while a screw threaded stern portion 421 of each

adjustment screw

415 and 415A is screw threadedly engaged in a screw threaded hole 423. Holes 423 are formed at'opposite points in the adjustable valve plate 410, as shown by FIG. 6. The head portions of each of the adjustable setting screws 415 and 415A may be conveniently positioned in opposite senses so as to effect a radial positioning of the valve plate 410 in relation to the adjacent surface of the end plate 15D.

. Adjustment screws 417 and 417A also eachhave head portions bearing upon a surface 419A of a recess provided in a circumferencial surface of the plate 40D, while a screw threaded stem portion 421A of each

adjustment screw

417 and 417A is screw threadedly engaged in a screw threaded hole 423A. Holes 423A are formed at opposite points in the adjustable valve plate 412 as shown by FIG. 6. The head portions of each of the adjustable setting screws 417 and 417A may be conveniently positioned in opposite senses so as to ef-' feet a radial positioning of the valve plate 412 in relation to the adjacent surface of the end plate 40D.

The angular orifice pockets 420 and 424 cooperate to form a series of orifice openings extending between a pump chamber 425 and-a fluid inlet passage 428 in plate 410, while the angular orifice pockets 422 and 426 cooperate to provide a series of orifice openings which extend from the pump chamber 425 to a fluid outlet passage 430 formed in the plate 410. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the inlet passage 428- opens at one end from the inlet passage 94D formed in the plate 15D while an opposite end of the passage 428 opens into a corresponding inlet passage 432 in the plate 412. Similarly the outlet passage 430 opens at one end into the outlet passage 66D formed in the plate 15D while the opposite end of the outlet passage 430 opens from a corresponding outlet passage 434 formed in the plate 412.

The end plates 40D and 150 are securely mounted on the end of the housing member 16D by mounting bolts 436 which extend through the end plates 40D and 15D and are in turn screw threadedly engaged in the housing member 16D, while the

adjustable valve plates

410 and 412 have

longitudinal slots

438 and 439 formed therein respectively for receiving the fastening bolts 436 in slidable relation, as shown by FIG. 7, so

as to permit the slidable adjustment of the valve plates 410.

and 412 in relation to the end plates 15D and 40D respectively upon adjustment of the setting screws 415-415A and 417-417A.

Angular orifice pockets 430 and 432 are also milled into a surface of the plate 412 extending adjacent a surface of the end plate 40D in which angular orifice pockets 434 and 436 are milled as shown by FIG. 6.

The angular orifice pockets 430 and 434 cooperate to form a series of orifice openings extending between a pump chamber 438 and a fluid inlet passage 432 formed in the plate 412, one of the orifice pockets 442 and 446 cooperate to provide a series of orifice openings which extend from the pump chamber 448 to a fluid outlet passage 434 formed in the plate 412.

The angular orifice pockets milled into the several plate surfaces and indicated generally in FIG. 6 by the

numerals

420, 422, 424, 426, 440, 442, 444 and 446 are as best shown by the enlarged sectional views of FIGS. 8 and 9 formed as staggered saw-teeth 450 in the surface of one plate and 452 in the adjacent surface of the other plate with

pockets

454 and 456 respectively. The staggered saw-

teeth

450 and 452 face one another in the assembled unit so that upon an adjustment of the

plate

410 or 412 in relation to the other adjacent surface of the plate 15D or,40D, respectively, the orifice opening between the respective saw-

teeth

450 and 452 may be changed from zero to maximum. Thus the angular valve orifice may be adjusted for varying operating frequencies and for different fluid viscosities.

Moreover the staggered saw-tooth orifice arrangement of the saw-

teeth

450 and 452 together with the

pockets

454 and 456 causes a high turbulent effect upon fluid medium attempting to flow through the valve orifices in. a direction opposite to that of the staggered saw-

teeth

450 and 452 and which high turbulent effects may be attributed to the fluid backing up on itself resulting in a high restriction to the fluid flow in such reverse direction as indicated by the solid arrows of FIG. 8.

However upon the fluid flow being directed through the valve orifices defined by the

teeth

450 and 452 and in the same direction as that in which the

teeth

450 and 452 extend it will seem thatthere will result a minimum turbulent effect so that the fluid medium may more readily flow through the valve orifices defined by the staggered saw-

teeth

450 and 452, as indicated by the solid arrows of FIG. 9.

However it will be readily seen that the orifice openings between the saw-

teeth

450 and 452 may be readily adjusted by

slidingthe orifice plates

410 and 412 relative to the other orifice plates 15D and 40D, respectively, by appropriate operator-operative adjustment of the respective setting screws' 415-415A and 417-417A.

As shown by FIG. 6, the piezoelectric diaphragm 60D is mounted in an annular ring 460 positioned in the recesses 53D and 54D formed in the

adjustable valve plates

410 and 412 respectively, while an outer edge portion of the piezoelectric diaphragm 60D is secured in an operative position-between I the mounting ring 460 and a resilient O-rin g support D of a conventional type.

In view of the arrangement of the mounting ring 460 in the recesses 53D and 54D formed in the

valve plates

410 and 412,

both of the

valve plates

410 and 412 may be adjusted to vary the respective valve openings between the staggered saw teeth by the simultaneous adjustment of the setting screws 4l5-'415A and 417417A by the operator to effect the appropriate operative adjustment of the valve openings controlled thereby.

In this connection, it will be noted that the seat of the head of each of the adjustment screws 415 and 415A is higher on the end plate 15D than on the slidable valve plate 410, while the seat of the head of each of the adjustment screws 417 and 417A is higher on the end plate 40D than on the slidable vale plate 412'. Upon the operator simultaneously turning the respective adjustment screws in an appropriate sense, there will be effected a slidable positioning of the

valve plates

410 and 412 relative to the adjacent surfaces of the end plates 15D and 40D, respectively, so that the respective saw-teeth of the

valve plates

410 and 412 may be slidably positioned in relation to the saw-teeth milled in the adjacent surfaces of the end plates 15D and 40D.

The two adjustment setting screws 415 and 415A as well as the two adjustment setting screws 417 and 417A are arranged in a diametrically opposite relation one to the other so as to effectively lock the

respective valve plates

410 and 412 in an adjusted position. The head portions of the respective adjustable setting screws 415-415A and 417-417A serve as dowels to line up the orifice pockets of the respective valve plates.

MULTI-PIEZOELECTRIC DIAPHRAGM PUMP tiplied as shown in the form of the invention of FIG. 2 and indicated by respective numerals 60E, 60EE, 60EF and 60EG.

These piezoelectric diaphragms are provided in sets indicated by the numerals 500 and 502 each set including a pair of piezoelectric diaphragms operating in opposing directions. Thus as shown in FIG. 10, the set 500 includes the piezoelectric diaphragms 60E and 60EE which in response to one phase of the alternating current applied by the source 105E are deflected in a sense indicated by the solid arrows in FIG. while inresponse to an opposite phase of the energizing alternating current the piezoelectric diaphragms 60E and 60EE are deflected-in an opposite sense as indicated by the dashed arrows of FIG. 10.

Similarly the set 502 includes the piezoelectric diaphragms 60EF and60EG which also in response to the energizing alternating current are deflected in response to one phase thereof ;as indicated by the solid arrows of FIG. 10 and in response to an oppositephase of the energizing alternating current the diaphragms 60EF and 60150 are deflected as indicated by the dashed arrows adjacent thereto in FIG. 10.

Moreover, as heretofore explained, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 6, positive and negative pressures are applied to the fluid medium through the pumping chambers 425E-448E, 425EE-448EE, 425EF-448EF and 425EG-448EG upon the bending of the respective diaphragms.

' Such resulting pressures are connected in parallel through the several outlet orifice valving 61E-62E to respective outlet conduits leading to the pressure conduit 66E and through the several inlet orifice valving 63E-64E from the respective return fluid pressure conduits leading from the return conduit 92E.

Any number of sets of the pairs of piezoelectric diaphragms may be used, as may be readily apparent from the drawing in FIG. 10, in which two sets of the pairs of diaphragms have been shown by way of example. The opposing operation of the diaphragms of the sets act to balance out any vibration in the pump while multiple sets of the pairs of piezoelectric diaphragms provide a high fluid flow capacity for the pump and permits high frequency operation thereof without adverse vibration in the pump.

While several embodiments ofthe invention have been illustrated and described, various changes in the form and relative arrangements of the parts, which will now appear obvious to those skilled in the art, may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a gyroscope ofa type including housing means;

fluid supply means within said housing means;

a gimbal element carrying a gyroscopic motor rotatable about a first axis; v

hydrostatic bearing means operable by said fluid supply means to support said gimbal element within said housing for pivotal movement about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;

the improvement in which said housing means includes a member mounted at one end of the housing means,

the end member includes fluid pressure chamber means therein,

the fluid supply means includes a piezoelectric element having a portion thereof fixedly mounted in the end member,

and another portion of the piezoelectric element being arranged to be movably actuated in relation to fluid medium in the chamber means,

the chamber means of the end member includes a pair of chambers in the end member at opposite sides of the piezoelectric element,

said end member including unidirectional fluid flow inlet control orifice means for permitting an input flow of a fluid medium from the hydrostatic bearing means into one of said pair of chambers in the end member while preventing a reverse output flow of fluid medium to the hydrostatic bearing means from the one chamber,

and other unidirectional fluid flow outlet control orifice means for permitting an output flow of the fluid medium from the other of said pair of chambers to the hydrostatic bearing means while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium from the hydrostatic bearing means into the other chamber,

the inlet and outlet control orifice means including separate inlet and outlet fluid flow restrictive orifices for each of the chambers of said pair of chambers, said inlet and outlet fluid flow restrictive orifices being selectively operable by the pressure of the fluid medium in the corresponding chamber of said pair of chambers for connecting the fluid medium in said chambers alternately through the fluid inlet and outlet flow restrictive orifices to and from the pair of chambers in the said member dependent upon the sense in which the opposing forces act to movably actuate said other portion of the piezoelectric element for effectively circulating fluid medium in the hydrostatic bearing means under pressure alternately applied to the fluid medium in said pair of chambers;

energizing voltage means for periodically causing the piezoelectric element to bias said other portion thereof in a sense in opposition to an opposing biasing force acting on the piezoelectric element in another sense;

one of said biasing forces to movably actuate said other portion of the piezoelectric element in a first sense to decrease an effective volume of one of said pair of chambers in the end member so as to force fluid medium in the one chamber out through the fluid outlet flow restrictive orifices of said one chamber and to the hydrostatic bearing means from the last mentioned chamber in the end member;

said other portion of the piezoelectric element being movably actuated in said first sense so as to simultane-' ously increase aneffective volume of the other chamber in the end member so as to draw a fluid medium through the fluid inlet flow restrictive orifices of said other chamber and from the hydrostatic bearing means into said other chamber in the end member;

the other of said biasing forces to movably actuate said other portion of the piezoelectric element in an opposite second sense so as to increase the effective volume in the one chamber and decrease the effective volume in the other chamber to simultaneously draw a fluid medium into the one chamber and force a fluid medium out of said outer chamber and through the respective fluid inlet and outlet flow restrictive orifices of said chambers,

and said other portion of the piezoelectric element being movably actuated in said first and second senses to effect an alternate simultaneous push-pull pumping action on the fluid medium in said respective chambers relative to the hydrostatic bearing means.

2. The combination defined by claim 1 in which each of the fluid inlet and outlet flow restrictive orifices includes series connected stationary restrictive orifices providing greater resistance to fluid flow in one direction than in another direction so as to partially rectify the simultaneous oscillating fluid flow to and from the respective chambers in the end member relative to the hydrostatic bearing means,

resilient intake and outlet fluid reservoirs,

and fluid conduct means opening said reservoirs into the hydrostatic bearing means and to the respective inlet and outlet fluid flow restrictive orifices of the chamber means so as to prevent cavitation under high operating frequencies of the piezoelectric element.

3. In a gyroscope of a type including housing means;

fluid supply means within said housing means;

a gimbal element carrying a gyroscopic rotor rotatable about a first axis;

a member mounted at one end ofthe housing means,

the end member including a fluid pressure chamber means therein,

the fluid supply means including a piezoelectric element having a portion thereof fixedly mounted in the end member,

and another portion of the piezoelectric element being arranged to be movably actuated in relation to a fluid medium in the chamber means,

said end member including unidirectional fluid flow inlet control orifice means for permitting flow of a fluid medium into the chamber means in the end member while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium from the chamber means, and other unidirectional fluid flow outlet control orifice means for permitting flow of the fluid medium out of the chamber means while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium into the chamber means, the inlet and outlet control orifice means effectively circulating fluid medium in the hydrostatic bearing means under pressure applied to the fluid medium in the chamber means;

one of said biasing forces to movably actuate said other portion of the piezoelectric element in a sense to decrease an effective volume of the chamber means in the end member so as to force fluid medium in the chamber means out through the fluidcutlet orifice control means from the chamber means in the end member;

and the other of said biasing forces to movably actuate said other portion of the piezoelectric element another sense so as to increase an effective volume of the chamber means in the end member so as to draw the fluid medium through the fluid inlet orifice control means into the chambermeans in the end member;

the improvement comprising resilient intake and outlet fluid reservoirs,

and fluid conduit means opening said reservoirsinto the hydrostatic bearing means and to the respective fluid inlet andoutlet fluid flow control orifice means to the chamber means so as to prevent cavitation under high operating frequencies ofthe piezoelectric element.

4. In a gyroscope ofa type including housing means;

fluid supplymeans within said housing means;

a gimbal element carrying a gyroscopic rotor rotatable about a first axis;

a member mounted at one end of the housing means,

the end member including a fluid pressure chamber means therein,

one of said biasing forces to movably actuate said other portion of the piezoelectric element in a sense to decrease an effective volume of the chamber means in the end member so as to force fluid medium in the chamber means out through the fluid outlet orifice control means from the chamber means in the end member;

and the other of said biasing forces to movably actuate said other portion of the piezoelectric element in another sense so as to increase an effective volume of the chamber means in the end member so as to draw the fluid,

and another set of the serially arranged teeth defining outlet control orifices opening from the chamber means. 5. The combination defined by claim 4 including operator'- operative means to adjustably position one of the slidably mounted plates relative to the other plate so as to vary the control orifices defined by the serially arranged teeth. I

6. The combination defined by claim 4 in which each of the serially arranged teeth define pockets, the pockets defined by the serially arranged teeth of the one set being so arranged as to permit fluid flow into the chamber means through the inlet control orifices defined by the one set of serially arranged teeth while the pockets defined by the one set of teeth provide a turbulent effect in a reverse flow of fluid causing a restriction of the fluid flowv in such reverse direction, the pockets defined by the serially arranged teeth of the other set being so arranged as to permit fluid flow from the chamber means through the outlet orifices defined by the other set of serially arranged teeth while the pockets defined by the other set of teeth provide a turbulent effect in a reverse flow of fluid causing a restriction in the fluid flow in such reverse direction.

7. The combination defined by claim 6 including and operator-operative means to adjustably position one of the slidably mounted plates relative to the other plate so as to vary the control orifices defined by the serially arranged teeth.

8. In a gyroscope of a type including housing means;

fluid supply means within said housing means;

a gimbal element carrying a gyroscopic rotor rotatable about a first axis;

the end member includes a fluid pressure chamber means therein,

the fluid supply means includes multiple sets of piezoelectric elements,

each of said sets of piezoelectric elements including a pair of piezoelectric elements,

each of the piezoelectric elements having a portion thereof fixedly mounted in the end member,

another portion of each of the piezoelectric elements being arranged to be movably actuated in relation to a fluid medium in the chamber means,

the chamber means of the end member including chambers at opposite sides of each of the piezoelectric elements, said end member including unidirectional fluid flow inlet control orifice means for permitting flow from the hydrostatic bearing means of a fluid medium alternately into each of said chambers in the end member at the opposite sides of the piezoelectric elements while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium from said chambers, and other undirectional fluid flow outlet control orifice means for permitting flow into said hydrostatic bearing means of a fluid medium alternately out of each of said chambers at the opposite sides of said piezoelectric elements while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium into said chambers,

the fluid flow inlet and outlet control orifice means being selectively operable by an applied pressure of the fluid medium in said chambers for effecting a flow of fluid medium alternatively through the fluid inlet control orifice means to said chambers from the hydrostatic bearing means and through the outlet control orifice means from the chambers to said hydrostatic bearing means depending upon the applied pressure of the fluid medium in said chambers, i 1

energizing voltage means periodically causing each of the piezoelectric elements of each set to be actuated in opposite senses to prevent adverse vibration while acting to increase and decrease the volume ofthe respective chambers at the opposite sides of the piezoelectric elements,

the actuation of the multiple piezoelectric elements thereby increasing and decreasing the pressures applied to the fluid medium in said chambers in a push-pull pumping action for effectively circulating the fluid medium in the hydrostatic bearing means and through the fluid inlet and outlet control orifice means under the pressures applied to the fluid medium in said chambers by the actuation of the piezoelectric elements.

9. The combination defined by claim 8 in which the fluid inlet and outlet orifice control means includes series connected stationary restrictive orifices providing greater resistance to fluid flow in one direction than in another direction so as to partially rectify the oscillating fluid flow to and from the chamber means in the end member.

10. The combination defined by claim 8 in which each of the piezoelectric elements includes a piezoelectric diaphragm having a laminate of piezoelectric crystals at opposite sides thereof so arranged that upon an alternat ing current voltage being applied to surfaces of the crystals by the energizing voltage means there is effected an alternate expansion and contraction of said laminate causing a bending of the diaphragm to effect a push-pull pumping action on the fluid medium in the chamber means,

the fluid inlet and outlet orifice control means includes series connected stationary restrictive orifices providing greater resistance to fluid flow in one direction than in another direction so as to partially rectify the oscillating fluid flow to and from the chamber means in the end member.

ll. ln a pump ofa type including a housing member,

a fluid pressure chamber means in said housing member,

a piezoelectric element having a portion thereof fixedly mounted in the housing member,

another portion of the piezoelectric element being arranged to be movably actuated in relation to a fluid medium in the chamber means,

said housing member including unidirectional fluid flow inlet control orifice means for permitting flow of a fluid medium into the chamber means in the housing member while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium from the chamber means, and other unidirectional fluid flow outlet control orifice means for permitting flow of the fluid medium out of the chamber means while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium into the chamber means,

one of said biasing forces to movably actuate said other portion of the piezoelectric element in a sense to decrease an effective volume of the chamber means in the housing member so as to force fluid medium in the chamber 5 means out through the fluid outlet orifice control means from the chamber means in the housing member;

and the other of said biasing forces to movably actuate said other portion of the piezoelectric element in another sense so as to increase an effective volume of the chamber means in the housing member so as to draw the fluid medium through the fluid inlet orifice control means into the chamber means in the housing member;

the improvement comprising resilient intake and outlet fluid reservoirs,

fluid conduit means opening the resilient intake fluid reservoir into the inlet fluid flow control orifice means to the chamber means, other fluid conduit means opening the outlet fluid flow control orifice means from said chamber means to the resilient outlet fluid reservoir,

and said resilient intake and outlet fluid reservoirs being responsive to oscillating fluid pressures applied at said intake and outlet conduit means so as to prevent cavitation under high operating frequencies of the piezoelectric element.

12. In a pump ofa type including a housing member,

a fluid pressure chamber means in said housing member,

another portion of the piezoelectric element being arranged to be movably actuated in relation to a fluid medium in the chamber means, said housing member including unidirectional fluid flow inlet control orifice means for permitting flow of a fluid medium into the chamber means in the housing member while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium from the chamber means, and other unidirectional fluid flow outlet control orifice means for permitting flow of the fluid medium .out of the chamber means while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium into the chamber means,

energizing voltage means for periodically causing the piezoelectric element to bias said other portion thereof in a sense in opposition to an opposing biasing force acting on the piezoelectricelement in another sense;

one of said biasing forces to movably actuate said other portion ofthe piezoelectric element in a sense to decrease an effective volume of the chamber means in the housing member so as to force fluid medium in the chamber means out through the fluid outlet orifice control means from the chamber means in the housing member;

the improvement in which 7 the fluid flow inlet and outlet control orifice means includes a pair of plates slidably mounted relative one to the other, each of the plates having two sets of serially arranged teeth provided in adjacent surfaces of the plates,

one set of the serially arranged teeth defining inlet control orifices opening into the chamber means,

and another set of the serially arranged teeth defining outlet control orifices opening from the chamber means.

13. The combination defined by claim l2 including operator-operative means to adjustably position one of the slidably mounted plates relative to the other plate so as to vary the 70 control orifices defined by the serially arranged teeth.

14. The combination defined by claim 12 in which each of the serially arranged teeth define pockets, the pockets defined by the serially arranged teeth of the one set being so arranged as to permit fluid flow into the chamber means through the inlet control orifices defined by the one set of serially arranged teeth while the pockets defined by the one set of teeth provide a turbulent effect in a reverse flow of fluid causing a restriction of the fluid flow in such reverse direction, the pockets defined by the serially arranged teeth of the other set being so arranged as to permit fluid flow from the chamber means through the outlet orifices defined by the other set of serially arranged teeth while the pockets defined by the other set of teeth provide a turbulent effect in a reverse flow of fluid causing a restriction in the fluid flow in such reverse direction.

l5. The combination defined by claim 14 including operatoroperative means to adjustably position one of the slidably mounted plates relative to the other plate so as to vary the control orifices defined by the serially arranged teeth.

16. A pump comprising a housing member a fluid pressure chamber means within said housing member,

multiple sets of piezoelectric elements,

each of the piezoelectric elements having a portion thereof fixedly mounted in the housing member,

another portion of each of the piezoelectric elements being arranged to be movably actuated in relation to a fluid medium in the chamber means, 7

the chamber means ofthe housing member including chambers at opposite sides of each of the piezoelectric elements,

said housing member including unidirectional fluid flow inlet control orifice means for permitting flow from a fluid supply means ofa fluid medium alternately intoeach of said chambers in the end member at the opposite sides of the piezoelectric elements while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium from said chambers, and other unidirectional fluid flow outlet control orifice means for permitting flow of a fluid medium alternately out of each of said chambers at the opposite sides of said piezoelectric elements while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium into said chambers,

the fluid flow inlet and outlet control orifice means being selectively operable by an applied pressure of the fluid medium in said chambers for effecting a flow of fluid medium alternately through the fluid inlet control orifice means to said chambers from the fluid supply means and through the outlet control orifice means from said cham-. bers depending upon the applied pressure of the fluid 1 medium in said chambers,

energizing voltage means periodically causing each of the piezoelectric elements of each set to be actuated in opposite senses to prevent adverse vibration while acting to increase and decrease the volume of the respective chambers at the opposite sides of the piezoelectric elements,

theactuation of the multiple piezoelectricelements thereby increasing and decreasing the pressures applied to the fluid medium in said chambers in a push-pull pumping action for effectively directing flow of fluid medium through the fluid inlet and outlet control orifice means under the pressures applied to the fluid medium in said chambers by the actuation of the piezoelectric elements.

17. The combination defined by claim 16 in which the fluid inlet and outlet orifice control means includes series connected stationary restrictive orifices providing greater resistance to fluid flow in one direction than in another direction so as to partially rectify the oscillating fluid flow to and from the chamber means in the housing member.

18. The combination defined by claim 16 in which each of the piezoelectric elements includes a piezoelectric diaphragm having a laminate of piezoelectric crystals at opposite sides thereof so arranged that upon an alternating current voltage being applied to surfaces of the crystals by the energizing voltage means there IS effected an alternate expansion and contraction of said laminate causing a bending of the diaphragm to effect a push pull pumping action on the fluid medium in the chamber means, the fluid inlet and outlet orifice control means includes series connected stationary restrictive orifices providing greater resistance to fluid flow in one direction than in another direction so as to partially rectify the oscillating fluid flow'to and from the chamber means in the housing .member.

Claims

1. In a gyroscope of a type including housing means; fluid supply means within said housing means; a gimbal element carrying a gyroscopic motor rotatable about a first axis; hydrostatic bearing means operable by said fluid supply means to support said gimbal element within said housing for pivotal movement about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; the improvement in which said housing means includes a member mounted at one end of the housing means, the end member includes fluid pressure chamber means therein, the fluid supply means includes a piezoelectric element having a portion thereof fixedly mounted in the end member, and another portion of the piezoelectric element being arranged to be movably actuated in relation to fluid medium in the chamber means, the chamber means of the end member includes a pair of chambers in the end member at opposite sides of the piezoelectric element, said end member including unidirectional fluid flow inlet control orifice means for permitting an input flow of a fluid medium from the hydrostatic bearing means into one of said pair of chambers in the end member while preventing a reverse output flow of fluid medium to the hydrostatic bearing means from the one chamber, and other unidirectional fluid flow outlet control orifice means for permitting an output flow of the fluid medium from the other of said pair of chambers to the hydrostatic bearing means while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium from the hydrostatic bearing means into the other chamber, the inlet and outlet control orifice means including separate inlet and outlet fluid flow restrictive orifices for each of the chambers of said pair of chambers, said inlet and outlet fluid flow restrictive orifices being selectively operable by the pressure of the fluid medium in the corresponding chamber of said pair of chambers for connecting the fluid medium in said chambers alternately through the fluid inlet and outlet flow restrictive orifices to and from the pair of chambers in the said member dependent upon the sense in which the opposing forces act to movably actuate said other portion of the piezoelectric element for effectively circulating fluid medium in the hydrostatic bearing means under pressure alternately applied to the fluid medium in said pair of chambers; energizing voltage means for periodically causing the piezoelectric element to bias said other portion thereof in a sense in opposition to an opposing biasing force acting on the piezoelectric element in another sense; one of said biasing forces to movably actuate said other portion of the piezoelectric element in a first sense to decrease an effective volume of one of said pair of chambers in the end member so as to force fluid medium in the one chamber out through the fluid outlet flow restrictive orifices of said one chamber and to the hydrostatic bearing means from the last mentioned chamber in the end member; said other portion of the piezoelectric element being movably actuated in said first sense so as to simultaneously increase an effective volume of the other chamber in the end member so as to draw a fluid medium through the fluid inlet flow restrictive orifices of said other chamber and from the hydrostatic bearing means into said other chamber in the end member; the other of said biasing forces to movably actuate said other portion of the piezoelectric element in an opposite second sense so as to increase the effective volume in the one chamber and decrease the effEctive volume in the other chamber to simultaneously draw a fluid medium into the one chamber and force a fluid medium out of said outer chamber and through the respective fluid inlet and outlet flow restrictive orifices of said chambers, and said other portion of the piezoelectric element being movably actuated in said first and second senses to effect an alternate simultaneous push-pull pumping action on the fluid medium in said respective chambers relative to the hydrostatic bearing means.

2. The combination defined by claim 1 in which each of the fluid inlet and outlet flow restrictive orifices includes series connected stationary restrictive orifices providing greater resistance to fluid flow in one direction than in another direction so as to partially rectify the simultaneous oscillating fluid flow to and from the respective chambers in the end member relative to the hydrostatic bearing means, resilient intake and outlet fluid reservoirs, and fluid conduct means opening said reservoirs into the hydrostatic bearing means and to the respective inlet and outlet fluid flow restrictive orifices of the chamber means so as to prevent cavitation under high operating frequencies of the piezoelectric element.

3. In a gyroscope of a type including housing means; fluid supply means within said housing means; a gimbal element carrying a gyroscopic rotor rotatable about a first axis; hydrostatic bearing means operable by said fluid supply means to support said gimbal element within said housing for pivotal movement about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; a member mounted at one end of the housing means, the end member including a fluid pressure chamber means therein, the fluid supply means including a piezoelectric element having a portion thereof fixedly mounted in the end member, and another portion of the piezoelectric element being arranged to be movably actuated in relation to a fluid medium in the chamber means, said end member including unidirectional fluid flow inlet control orifice means for permitting flow of a fluid medium into the chamber means in the end member while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium from the chamber means, and other unidirectional fluid flow outlet control orifice means for permitting flow of the fluid medium out of the chamber means while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium into the chamber means, the inlet and outlet control orifice means effectively circulating fluid medium in the hydrostatic bearing means under pressure applied to the fluid medium in the chamber means; energizing voltage means for periodically causing the piezoelectric element to bias said other portion thereof in a sense in opposition to an opposing biasing force acting on the piezoelectric element in another sense; one of said biasing forces to movably actuate said other portion of the piezoelectric element in a sense to decrease an effective volume of the chamber means in the end member so as to force fluid medium in the chamber means out through the fluid outlet orifice control means from the chamber means in the end member; and the other of said biasing forces to movably actuate said other portion of the piezoelectric element another sense so as to increase an effective volume of the chamber means in the end member so as to draw the fluid medium through the fluid inlet orifice control means into the chamber means in the end member; the improvement comprising resilient intake and outlet fluid reservoirs, and fluid conduit means opening said reservoirs into the hydrostatic bearing means and to the respective fluid inlet and outlet fluid flow control orifice means to the chamber means so as to prevent cavitation under high operating frequencies of the piezoelectric element.

4. In a gyroscope of a type including housing means; fluid supply means within said housing means; a gimbal element carrying a gyroscopic rotor rotatable about a first axis; Hydrostatic bearing means operable by said fluid supply means to support said gimbal element within said housing for pivotal movement about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; a member mounted at one end of the housing means, the end member including a fluid pressure chamber means therein, the fluid supply means including a piezoelectric element having a portion thereof fixedly mounted in the end member, and another portion of the piezoelectric element being arranged to be movably actuated in relation to a fluid medium in the chamber means, said end member including unidirectional fluid flow inlet control orifice means for permitting flow of a fluid medium into the chamber means in the end member while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium from the chamber means, and other unidirectional fluid flow outlet control orifice means for permitting flow of the fluid medium out of the chamber means while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium into the chamber means, the inlet and outlet control orifice means effectively circulating fluid medium in the hydrostatic bearing means under pressure applied to the fluid medium in the chamber means; energizing voltage means for periodically causing the piezoelectric element to bias said other portion thereof in a sense in opposition to an opposing biasing force acting on the piezoelectric element in another sense; one of said biasing forces to movably actuate said other portion of the piezoelectric element in a sense to decrease an effective volume of the chamber means in the end member so as to force fluid medium in the chamber means out through the fluid outlet orifice control means from the chamber means in the end member; and the other of said biasing forces to movably actuate said other portion of the piezoelectric element in another sense so as to increase an effective volume of the chamber means in the end member so as to draw the fluid medium through the fluid inlet orifice control means into the chamber means in the end member; the improvement in which the fluid flow inlet and outlet control orifice means includes a pair of plates slidably mounted relative one to the other, each of the plates having two sets of serially arranged teeth provided in adjacent surfaces of the plates, one set of the serially arranged teeth defining inlet control orifices opening into the chamber means, and another set of the serially arranged teeth defining outlet control orifices opening from the chamber means.

5. The combination defined by claim 4 including operator-operative means to adjustably position one of the slidably mounted plates relative to the other plate so as to vary the control orifices defined by the serially arranged teeth.

6. The combination defined by claim 4 in which each of the serially arranged teeth define pockets, the pockets defined by the serially arranged teeth of the one set being so arranged as to permit fluid flow into the chamber means through the inlet control orifices defined by the one set of serially arranged teeth while the pockets defined by the one set of teeth provide a turbulent effect in a reverse flow of fluid causing a restriction of the fluid flow in such reverse direction, the pockets defined by the serially arranged teeth of the other set being so arranged as to permit fluid flow from the chamber means through the outlet orifices defined by the other set of serially arranged teeth while the pockets defined by the other set of teeth provide a turbulent effect in a reverse flow of fluid causing a restriction in the fluid flow in such reverse direction.

8. In a gyroscope of a type including housing means; fluid supply means within said housing means; a gimbal element carrying a gyroscopic rotor rotatable about a first axis; hydrostatic bearing means operable by said fluid supply means to support said gimbal element within said housing for pivotal movement about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; the improvement in which said housing means includes a member mounted at one end of the housing means, the end member includes a fluid pressure chamber means therein, the fluid supply means includes multiple sets of piezoelectric elements, each of said sets of piezoelectric elements including a pair of piezoelectric elements, each of the piezoelectric elements having a portion thereof fixedly mounted in the end member, another portion of each of the piezoelectric elements being arranged to be movably actuated in relation to a fluid medium in the chamber means, the chamber means of the end member including chambers at opposite sides of each of the piezoelectric elements, said end member including unidirectional fluid flow inlet control orifice means for permitting flow from the hydrostatic bearing means of a fluid medium alternately into each of said chambers in the end member at the opposite sides of the piezoelectric elements while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium from said chambers, and other undirectional fluid flow outlet control orifice means for permitting flow into said hydrostatic bearing means of a fluid medium alternately out of each of said chambers at the opposite sides of said piezoelectric elements while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium into said chambers, the fluid flow inlet and outlet control orifice means being selectively operable by an applied pressure of the fluid medium in said chambers for effecting a flow of fluid medium alternatively through the fluid inlet control orifice means to said chambers from the hydrostatic bearing means and through the outlet control orifice means from the chambers to said hydrostatic bearing means depending upon the applied pressure of the fluid medium in said chambers, energizing voltage means periodically causing each of the piezoelectric elements of each set to be actuated in opposite senses to prevent adverse vibration while acting to increase and decrease the volume of the respective chambers at the opposite sides of the piezoelectric elements, the actuation of the multiple piezoelectric elements thereby increasing and decreasing the pressures applied to the fluid medium in said chambers in a push-pull pumping action for effectively circulating the fluid medium in the hydrostatic bearing means and through the fluid inlet and outlet control orifice means under the pressures applied to the fluid medium in said chambers by the actuation of the piezoelectric elements.

10. The combination defined by claim 8 in which each of the piezoelectric elements includes a piezoelectric diaphragm having a laminate of piezoelectric crystals at opposite sides thereof so arranged that upon an alternating current voltage being applied to surfaces of the crystals by the energizing voltage means there is effected an alternate expansion and contraction of said laminate causing a bending of the diaphragm to effect a push-pull pumping action on the fluid medium in the chamber means, the fluid inlet and outlet orifice control means includes series connected stationary restrictive orifices providing greater resistance to fluid flow in one direction than in another direction so as to partially rectify the oscillating fluid flow to and from the chamber means in the end member.

11. In a pump of a type including a housing member, a fluid pressure chamber Means in said housing member, a piezoelectric element having a portion thereof fixedly mounted in the housing member, another portion of the piezoelectric element being arranged to be movably actuated in relation to a fluid medium in the chamber means, said housing member including unidirectional fluid flow inlet control orifice means for permitting flow of a fluid medium into the chamber means in the housing member while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium from the chamber means, and other unidirectional fluid flow outlet control orifice means for permitting flow of the fluid medium out of the chamber means while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium into the chamber means, energizing voltage means for periodically causing the piezoelectric element to bias said other portion thereof in a sense in opposition to an opposing biasing force acting on the piezoelectric element in another sense; one of said biasing forces to movably actuate said other portion of the piezoelectric element in a sense to decrease an effective volume of the chamber means in the housing member so as to force fluid medium in the chamber means out through the fluid outlet orifice control means from the chamber means in the housing member; and the other of said biasing forces to movably actuate said other portion of the piezoelectric element in another sense so as to increase an effective volume of the chamber means in the housing member so as to draw the fluid medium through the fluid inlet orifice control means into the chamber means in the housing member; the improvement comprising resilient intake and outlet fluid reservoirs, fluid conduit means opening the resilient intake fluid reservoir into the inlet fluid flow control orifice means to the chamber means, other fluid conduit means opening the outlet fluid flow control orifice means from said chamber means to the resilient outlet fluid reservoir, and said resilient intake and outlet fluid reservoirs being responsive to oscillating fluid pressures applied at said intake and outlet conduit means so as to prevent cavitation under high operating frequencies of the piezoelectric element.

12. In a pump of a type including a housing member, a fluid pressure chamber means in said housing member, a piezoelectric element having a portion thereof fixedly mounted in the housing member, another portion of the piezoelectric element being arranged to be movably actuated in relation to a fluid medium in the chamber means, said housing member including unidirectional fluid flow inlet control orifice means for permitting flow of a fluid medium into the chamber means in the housing member while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium from the chamber means, and other unidirectional fluid flow outlet control orifice means for permitting flow of the fluid medium out of the chamber means while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium into the chamber means, energizing voltage means for periodically causing the piezoelectric element to bias said other portion thereof in a sense in opposition to an opposing biasing force acting on the piezoelectric element in another sense; one of said biasing forces to movably actuate said other portion of the piezoelectric element in a sense to decrease an effective volume of the chamber means in the housing member so as to force fluid medium in the chamber means out through the fluid outlet orifice control means from the chamber means in the housing member; and the other of said biasing forces to movably actuate said other portion of the piezoelectric element in another sense so as to increase an effective volume of the chamber means in the housing member so as to draw the fluid medium through the fluid inlet orifice control means into the chamber means in the housing member; the improvement in which the fluid flow inlet and outlet control orifice means includes a pair of plates slidably mounted relative one to the other, Each of the plates having two sets of serially arranged teeth provided in adjacent surfaces of the plates, one set of the serially arranged teeth defining inlet control orifices opening into the chamber means, and another set of the serially arranged teeth defining outlet control orifices opening from the chamber means.

13. The combination defined by claim 12 including operator-operative means to adjustably position one of the slidably mounted plates relative to the other plate so as to vary the control orifices defined by the serially arranged teeth.

15. The combination defined by claim 14 including operator-operative means to adjustably position one of the slidably mounted plates relative to the other plate so as to vary the control orifices defined by the serially arranged teeth.

16. A pump comprising a housing member a fluid pressure chamber means within said housing member, multiple sets of piezoelectric elements, each of said sets of piezoelectric elements including a pair of piezoelectric elements, each of the piezoelectric elements having a portion thereof fixedly mounted in the housing member, another portion of each of the piezoelectric elements being arranged to be movably actuated in relation to a fluid medium in the chamber means, the chamber means of the housing member including chambers at opposite sides of each of the piezoelectric elements, said housing member including unidirectional fluid flow inlet control orifice means for permitting flow from a fluid supply means of a fluid medium alternately into each of said chambers in the end member at the opposite sides of the piezoelectric elements while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium from said chambers, and other unidirectional fluid flow outlet control orifice means for permitting flow of a fluid medium alternately out of each of said chambers at the opposite sides of said piezoelectric elements while preventing a reverse flow of fluid medium into said chambers, the fluid flow inlet and outlet control orifice means being selectively operable by an applied pressure of the fluid medium in said chambers for effecting a flow of fluid medium alternately through the fluid inlet control orifice means to said chambers from the fluid supply means and through the outlet control orifice means from said chambers depending upon the applied pressure of the fluid medium in said chambers, energizing voltage means periodically causing each of the piezoelectric elements of each set to be actuated in opposite senses to prevent adverse vibration while acting to increase and decrease the volume of the respective chambers at the opposite sides of the piezoelectric elements, the actuation of the multiple piezoelectric elements thereby increasing and decreasing the pressures applied to the fluid medium in said chambers in a push-pull pumping action for effectively directing flow of fluid medium through the fluid inlet and outlet control orifice means under the pressures applied to the fluid medium in said chambers by the actuation of the piezoelectric elements.

18. The combination defined by claim 16 in which each of the piezoelectric elements includes a piezoelectric diaphragm having a laminate of piezoelectric crystals at opposite sides thereof so arranged that upon an alternating current voltage being applied to surfaces of the crystals by the energizing voltage means there is effected an alternate expansion and contraction of said laminate causing a bending of the diaphragm to effect a push-pull pumping action on the fluid medium in the chamber means, the fluid inlet and outlet orifice control means includes series connected stationary restrictive orifices providing greater resistance to fluid flow in one direction than in another direction so as to partially rectify the oscillating fluid flow to and from the chamber means in the housing member.